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First World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace - Opening Presentation from His Majesty the King Mohammed VI

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

His Majesty Mohammed VI, king of Morocco and Commander of the Faithful, is one of the two Patrons of the First World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace in partnership with Its Majesty the King Albert II.

Here is in its entirety the opening speech of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI read by his Minister for Habous and Islamic Affairs, Dr. Ahmed Taoufiq .

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, first of all it is a pleasure to express our deep and sincere thanks to our great friend His Majesty Albert II, King of the Belgians, who is hosting this exceptional meeting in this historic context, when it appears that fewer and fewer voices that preach wisdom and reserve in the relations between human beings are audible, this unique species living in expatriation on a small planet in the immense universe.

This meeting is taking place at a moment when humanity is shaken by one of the most terrible natural disasters in the history of our planet. Our prayers go out to those who have lost their lives and our compassion to those who have lost their loved ones and their worldly possessions, who are in need of our aid of our solidarity.

This disaster reminds us of the fragility of humanity and invites us to greater wisdom, lucidity and modesty. We have the feeling that our ephemeral passage on this earth should incite us to cultivate fraternity in resisting the temptation of discord and rupture.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I ardently pray that our meeting here together will put a halt to the wave of intolerance and mutual exclusion, the scars of which the world bears today. However, no acceptable argument can be invoked by humanity in the 21st century to justify this situation, even though this century possesses so many advantages and so much knowledge that gives the possibility to overcome our problems. In effect, the mastery of science by humanity permits it to make the clearest analysis of the causes and to undertake the projects and make the extrapolations necessary, defining the mechanisms governing phenomena such as ostracism, absolutism, and the illusionary concept of exclusivity for the unique truth.

I cannot let this opportunity pass without rendering homage to the Foundation Hommes de Paroles for the responsible and courageous initiative it has taken to open new paths and to establish between Islam and Judaism a serene and responsible dialogue, auguring better tomorrows for whole of humanity. The heavenly dialogue transmitted to man along the centuries, above all at the time of Abraham, was a dialogue of compassion, of tolerance and brotherly fraternity. It had for its mission the development of man’s knowledge, to reinforce and refine his aptitudes in order to help him understand in its integrality the universal context wherever they are found, as well as the character, relative and ephemeral that distinguishes them individually and collectively.

This dialogue should also permit them to appreciate the unique value of the human species and the enormous possibilities that they have at their disposition to achieve happiness here on earth and in the hereafter.
In accordance with the conventional concepts that are all subject to the threat of interference, deranging or contradictory, the normal framework concerning worship runs and continues to run the risk of destabilizing interference.

If it suffers at moments, it is however more vigorous in other circumstances. Among the factors of interference that have been noted throughout history, one can cite in particular a tendency of certain, without the qualifications or the competence necessary, to rise and set themselves up as commanders and chiefs, insolently usurping the name of God and the words of the Book, exploiting the religious fervor of peoples to precipitate them into the abyss.

Thus, lucid and virtuous men have continuously engaged themselves to tearing from the unbidden and incompetent the name of God, the divine word, precisely to reestablish the state of normality in this essential and so sensitive domain.

This redeeming mission led by informed and scrupulous and men, has always been a major challenge for humanity. Their success in this saving mission has marked the triumph of lucidity for the greater good for all humanity.

Ladies and gentlemen, the most urgent task today is to work without fail, to free the name of God and the divine words from the vise of those false preachers of good, of whom the Holy Koran says: those who exchange the goodness of God against incredulity and who lead their people into the land of perdition, those who have given their life to intolerance, violence, or death and extermination, exploiting the divine message for this goal in an arbitrary, unilateral and unfounded path.

Today it is more than ever urgent that we reestablish the name and the words of God. And that we render to them the meaning that was theirs in the beginning, bearer of values, of mutual understanding, of dialogue, of moral and spiritual uplifting, and fulfillment.

It is these ideals that have borne the light for humanity and lit the periods of prosperity well being that have been retained in their collective memory.

The unavoidable necessity for this re-adaptation is the need to protect and to valorize the great causes that confront us all. Thus, the right of peoples and nations to freedom, dignity and sovereignty, is intangible. As is unacceptable the multiplicity of criteria and parameters to be applied to guarantee the application of these rights.

These should in effect be the same for all. And the combat led by those who are deprived can be but legitimate. Consequently we should be at their sides to demonstrate our unfailing solidarity. The affirmation of our spirituality and of our specific cultures, within a framework of dialogue, exchange and meeting is in no way incompatible with the obligation of solidarity and engagement.

On the contrary the divine words, the use of which should naturally be restored must be put at the service of this cause.

In Judaism, and for the same precise reasons in Islam, it is an attack on religion to reject the needy, to refuse to feed the poor or offer aid to the destitute. In this respect the Holy Koran says: do you see he who lives in lies, who rejects the orphan and he who does not incite his fellows to feed the poor, unhappy are those who pray whilst neglecting their prayers. They are filled with ostentation. They refuse all that is necessary to men.

It is your essential duty, to you honorable imams and rabbis, to be champions of solidarity for the protection of the right of Palestinians to live in peace, in dignity and justice, side by side, with the Israelis, who will be reconciled with the Judaic values and the basis of the faith we share together.

Our duty to all is to break the mystifying mirror that has too long reflected to our peoples and nations a false and hideous image, twisted and rendering unrecognizable the notion of holy war, vehiculed and spread by those of evil intent, alienated or misleading, whose concept signifies in reality nothing more than arming oneself against all deviation internal or external.

Ladies and gentlemen, Morocco has chosen to build and develop the future according to this vision which has inspired the defining cultural practice in our country and which has spread through its long history to other regions of the world.

This vision has shown the need to set up a sophisticated educational approach which is contextual, structural and factual. A method consistent and profound, prepared with the reflection and patience necessary, characterized by the required effectiveness.

It is to you distinguished participants, the honor of giving the signal to commence today.

Morocco means to accompany you in your action, and joins you with enthusiasm, resolutely and actively at your side. In so far as you have made the choice of giving the words of God their full expression in the service of justice, dignity and peace.

It is also because you have refused to consider confrontation as an unavoidable fatality and to cede to the folly of religious schism. You have equally refused the logic of exclusion for reasons of race or religious confession, preferring to make your meeting here the starting point of a long march. Thus, evolving methodically towards the rehabilitation of reason, the reconstruction of hope and towards the exercise by men and women of faith, of worship, of the mission that is incumbent on them, to fortify man and to guide him towards happiness, here on earth and in the hereafter.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is your duty today to take up a double challenge, first that of liberating the word of God, then ensuring that its full effect is felt, to melt the ice that has accumulated over time between the faithful and those others, putting to work the vast knowledge and competence that humanity disposes in these times.

The other challenge is to reinforce the anchor of the moral engagement and the attachment of the newly rediscovered values.

Morocco, under the royal patronage of Mohammed VI, by sending an important delegation, wishes to bring its vision and its support to this great meeting. We hope that it will be a mile stone marking the beginning of the plan that has been set forth.

I wish all success to your courageous and responsible initiative, and thank you for your attention.


The text has been prepared in the Royal Palace of Marrakech 31 December 2004
Translated to English from the official translation into French. Read by Interpreter.


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